An Powerful Event as Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a quality tactician who understands football inside out, which is the most important thing.

"However, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment fails to move me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also owns Chelsea.

There have been only twelve black head coaches – excluding those in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and played locally, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"When kids see someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Do the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour throughout English football corresponds with a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per a BFP 2023's report, 43% of Premier League players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research from the equality organization found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea head coach, and we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists within black and underrepresented communities... they desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of national managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten of the 18 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches from an academy background are, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the Honours List for his services in combating inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him in moving from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing a coach make a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|